Broken Wings

Chapter 16

I don't know where to go. I want to go back to Peeta and spend my day with him, but I can't. I don't want to be alone, so that rules out the woods or home. I have a feeling Haymitch is sleeping from the nights wait for me and Peeta so that just leaves town. So, I make my way to Greasy Sae's kitchen. Sae has been asked me to stop by, saying she has something for me so I use that as my excuse. Getting there I don't look up once hiding from the eyes that might chase me, hiding from the destruction and most of all hiding from the shame that once again I have hurt someone in some way. My feet know the way though, causing me reach my destination soon. When I enter the shop door I almost fall face first tripping over some boxes strewn across the floor, before an arm catches me. I look up and see a familiar face belonging to Thom.

"Thanks, Thom."

"Not a problem. You might want to start looking up though, hey?" He says lightly patting my chin upwards. I blush just a little as a smile comes onto my face. "I'll keep that in mind. What's with all the boxes?" I ask gesturing to the mountain of boxed goods on the floor."

"A train derailed, causing a delay so President Paylor has sent some essentials via the air." He explains, "and Sae volunteered the space in the back."

"Yes, I did." Greasy Sae's voice calls from the counter "Hey, Sae. You said you had something for me?"

"Right again but help me with the boxes first I'll even throw in some soup." This sounds good seeing as I didn't eat anything up till now. "Alright."

"I'll help to" Thom chimes in and between the three of us we have everything I the back in no time. Sae seems satisfied with our work and pours both Thom and I soup, with comments about Thom purely helping for the free soup, but Sae is just joking. We all sit together and talk about the reconstruction on the district. Once the subject of low funding due the conflict of war I see an opportunity to help. I have more than enough money funded to me by the new government. I don't need to work because of the victor's pay we still receive. Maybe this can be the way I can truly help fix what I broke.

"Thom, I have more than enough to spare, and I would love to help this cause. Repairing our home isn't something that can really wait so let me help." Thom considers my idea, thinking weather it's a good idea or not. "I guess I'm not in the position to turn away any form of help but let me sort out some paperwork first. Just to give you more information before rushing into anything." I really don't mind what it costs but Thom is just trying to help me so I agree and we finish our soup. Thom leaves to continue whatever job he was doing prior to lunch. Sae starts preparing for the lunch rush and I get up to help her. We work side by side chopping and cooking more food for the construction crew that come to feed themselves. Greasy Sae sings and I realise I've started humming along when the first customers walk in.

"You should head home girl; I can cover this." I'm upset that I can't help her and relived I don't have to face so many people at the same time. I am not ready to be cheery around that large a group of faces known or otherwise, especially otherwise. "Thanks Sae, you said I needed to get something from the back though." It would be pointless if I didn't even fetch what I came for. "Ah, yes. It's on the shelf behind all the boxes. Can you take Peeta's to? The piolet was pretty adamant he got it soon."

"Alright then, I'll just fetch that and go, thanks for the soup." I head to the back, finding what I was looking for rather quickly. It's a small box and the curly handwriting tells me it's from Effie. These must be the photos I called about a couple of weeks ago. There is a bag behind my box with Peeta's name on it, looking a lot like the one sent home with me from the hospital. That one held medicine for my burns and sleeping pills, this one must hold similar for his although it does seem odd. I have never seen Peeta take any medicine. Shrugging it off I leave Sae to her customers and start my journey home.